Humor me for a minute...

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

ClassicJoe

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2021
Posts
163
Reaction score
91
Location
NC
Ram Year
2019
Engine
Hemi 5.7
If I mount a universal winch mount/plate using only the two bottom bolts on the tow hooks, are those two bolts alone strong enough to hold up the plate/winch and are they strong enough to hold everything while using the winch?

I would assume since the hooks can be used to pull somebody out of a ditch, for example, it should be fine...

The only other issue I foresee is the universal mounts that I can find online do not seem like they will reach the bumper for the fairlead...

Yes, I know Vice makes a nice hidden winch mount, but they are out of my budget at the moment...
 

hunterdan

Senior Member
Joined
May 7, 2018
Posts
836
Reaction score
777
Location
SE PA
Ram Year
2019 classic
Engine
5.7 Hemi
I'd add a bracket that attaches to the front bumper mount to keep the tow hook mount from bending under load. The hidden winch kits attach to the tow hook mounts and to the front bumper mount.
 

crazykid1994

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2013
Posts
5,040
Reaction score
4,963
Location
Florida
Ram Year
2017
Engine
Hemi 5.7
If I mount a universal winch mount/plate using only the two bottom bolts on the tow hooks, are those two bolts alone strong enough to hold up the plate/winch and are they strong enough to hold everything while using the winch?

I would assume since the hooks can be used to pull somebody out of a ditch, for example, it should be fine...

The only other issue I foresee is the universal mounts that I can find online do not seem like they will reach the bumper for the fairlead...

Yes, I know Vice makes a nice hidden winch mount, but they are out of my budget at the moment...
Remember the tow hook brackets that attach to the 2 lower bolts per side of the bumper mount too. 3 bolts per tow hook. I plan on doing the same when I build my winch cradle
 
OP
OP
ClassicJoe

ClassicJoe

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2021
Posts
163
Reaction score
91
Location
NC
Ram Year
2019
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Yeah, I did not think about the two bolts in the front...

I was also looking at somehow mounting a hitch receiver to the piece of frame between the lower control arms then mounting a hitch mounted winch plate to that. That should put a fairlead pretty close to the bumper.

I feel like I am really just grasping at straws to make it work, but $569 for the Vice mount is just out of my budget at the moment.

I still do not understand why nobody has come out with another winch mount for our trucks...
 

caulk04

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Posts
871
Reaction score
1,501
Ram Year
2018
Engine
5.7 Hemi
My guess is that most people just don't really need a winch. Even the ones who have one.
 

huntergreen

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Jan 5, 2011
Posts
12,188
Reaction score
25,936
Ram Year
2016
Engine
hemi 5.7
My guess is that most people just don't really need a winch. Even the ones who have one.
I like the idea of adding a front hitch. More attachment points to spread the weight over a larger area.
 
OP
OP
ClassicJoe

ClassicJoe

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2021
Posts
163
Reaction score
91
Location
NC
Ram Year
2019
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I'd add a bracket that attaches to the front bumper mount to keep the tow hook mount from bending under load. The hidden winch kits attach to the tow hook mounts and to the front bumper mount.
What if I used the tow hook brackets that come with the Vice mount?
 

retired

Votes republican and identifies as a he/him
Joined
Aug 19, 2020
Posts
2,172
Reaction score
2,778
Location
montana
Ram Year
2020
Engine
6.4
Yeah, I did not think about the two bolts in the front...

I was also looking at somehow mounting a hitch receiver to the piece of frame between the lower control arms then mounting a hitch mounted winch plate to that. That should put a fairlead pretty close to the bumper.

I feel like I am really just grasping at straws to make it work, but $569 for the Vice mount is just out of my budget at the moment.

I still do not understand why nobody has come out with another winch mount for our trucks...
If $569 is out of your budget wait a while, as the cost of doing it wrong will exceed $569
 

bcbouy

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2014
Posts
1,730
Reaction score
1,182
Location
pitt meadows/100 mile house
Ram Year
2021 power wagon
Engine
hemi
My guess is that most people just don't really need a winch. Even the ones who have one.
said every single person who needed a winch and didn't have one.you'd be surprised how much you use a winch for things other than pulling ones self out.
 
Top